Antique cow / bovine drinking horns and flasks

Drinking horns have been used

throughout history by various cultures, including the Vikings, Celts, and

Germanic tribes. They were typically made from the horns of cattle, sheep, or

goats and were used to drink beer, mead, and other fermented beverages.

Drinking horns were also believed to have ceremonial or symbolic significance

and were sometimes used in religious rituals.

Silver mounted drinking horns

are adorned with silver fittings, such as a silver base, a silver rim, or a

silver handle. These fittings were added to enhance the appearance and value of

the horn and to indicate the wealth and status of the owner. Silver mounted drinking

horns were particularly popular in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, during

the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They were often used in formal settings,

such as banquets and ceremonies, and were also used as decorative items in

homes and castles.

The production of more... these

drinking horns was a specialized craft and required the skills of a horn

carver, a silversmith, and an engraver. The carver would shape and smooth the

horn, the silversmith would create and attach the silver fittings, and the

engraver would decorate the silver with intricate designs and inscriptions. These

horns were expensive and were often owned by the nobility and the wealthy.